By Shereen Siewert
Multiple crashes are being reported throughout Marathon County as a powerful weather system expected to dump up to 10 inches of snow passes through the area.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation travel is not advised on Hwy. 51 from Rothschild to Merrill and Hwy. 29 from Abbotsford to Wittenberg. North of Merrill, roads are ice covered, while roads south of Rothschild are covered in snow.
As of 10:20 a.m. a stretch of southbound Hwy. 51 near Hwy. K is reduced to one land due to a crash involving multiple vehicles, according to the State Patrol. There’s no word yet on when the lane will reopen.
“Please avoid any unnecessary travel today,” a Marathon County Sheriff’s Department social media post reads. “If you do need to travel, please use common sense winter driving tactics which include reduced speed and increased vehicle spacing between your vehicle and others.”
Drivers are also urged to drive with lights on.
The Marathon County Sheriff’s Department issued a towing ban during the snow event. There will be no towing operations unless officers deem it necessary for public safety.
Vehicles remaining in the ditch will be towed once the towing ban is lifted.
Marathon County is under a winter storm warning until 6 p.m. Sunday.
